20 Best Interview Questions You Can Ask As a Recruiter

Attracting your target talent all starts with how strong the marketing to your recruiting campaign is. But identifying your ideal candidate relies on the art of conducting a perfect interview. With this step by step guide, we at MockQuestions will give you all the tools, and everything you need to know, to not only hire a model employee, but to build upon your reputation as a rock-star recruiter, while increasing the culture appeal of your company.

1. Tell Me About Yourself.

Why You Should Ask This Question

This discovery question serves as your first ice-breaker moment. You need your candidate to lower their guard, to relax, to be themselves, and to showcase their personality in order to assess their fit for your company culture. If you are successful, it will help you distinguish their more sincere answers from performative ones, and who they truly are versus who they think you want them to be.

Pro-Tip

The more at ease they are, the less boundaried and filtered they’ll be. This will help distinguish the less self-aware candidates from the more emotionally intelligent ones. To get them to loosen up, make them feel more comfortable. Offer them a coffee. Earn their trust by telling them a little about your day. Give them an anecdotal behind-the-scenes glimpse of what it is like to work there. Be playful and embody your company’s culture. Make them feel like they are a member of your club.

What The Candidate's Answers Show and Tell You

Qualified Answer: “When I was putting myself through college pursuing a degree in business management, I worked in retail. I liked the work and was good at it. When I graduated, I landed in an office job, and struggled to climb the corporate ladder. I wasn’t the best fit for representing the company at a higher level, though, because I didn’t identify with the culture. I also struggled with my work life balance. Wanting to be outdoors, in nature, and to get fit, I quit that job to start a landscaping business. I enjoyed the work, and running my own business. But it was solitary work and the one thing it was missing was engagement, which I craved. So, one day, while shopping at your store, which I always look forward to, I realized the brand and culture here seemed like the perfect fit for me. The company shares my values. The work is physically demanding and promotes a healthy lifestyle. The company has a great brand, and I realized I could learn a lot from working here. So, I’m now pursuing a position, with an interest in rising to leadership.”

This answer shows the interviewer that:

Their story telling is linear and communicated clearly.
Their career journey and motives are detailed and well thought out.
They are taking their time looking for the right job, rather than any job right now.

Unqualified Answer: “I worked several retail jobs putting myself through college. Then, I worked in the office sector after I graduated. I graduated with a 3.0 GPA. But those retail jobs helped me focus on my degree, and that type of work didn’t distract me from my priorities. It was pretty straightforward stuff. But I wasn’t super passionate about my degree. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, and I just took my parents’ advice on choosing a degree in business management. But working in a cubicle can be soul-sucking work. So I got out of there and was an independent contractor for a while, working outdoors. But I am ready for something new. I like the exercise, but landscaping is kind of lonely work. It’s nice, I like it, but I miss being around people. So here I am.”

This answer tells the interviewer that:

Their narrative rambles on, is not linear nor well communicated.
Their career goals are unclear, lacking direction, and they seem noncommital.
They spent little time preparing for this interview, which exhibits a poor work ethic.

2. Why Are You Looking For A Job?

Why You Should Ask This Question

How the candidate answers this situational question stands to reveal a great deal about their attitude, emotional intelligence, and experience level. Their circumstance is only as important as the context and attitude in which they present it. If they’re still employed, are they hoping the grass is greener on the other side, or is this a calculated career move? And what makes them ready for this jump now? Did they quit before lining up another job? If they were fired, do they take responsibility for what happened? If they were laid off, what is their attitude towards their company?

Remember To

Pay attention to their choice of words. Do they speak in positive or negative terms? Do they seem eager to pursue the next stage of their career, or do they seem burned out? Did they leave their previous job on good terms or are they blaming their circumstance on others?

What The Candidate’s Answers Show And Tell You

Qualified Answer: “I am super grateful for my mentors and my teams for all I’ve learned from and accomplished with them. However, the business cannot currently facilitate the career growth I am looking for at this time. So, I had a few meetings with my leaders. We discussed my goals and concluded that the best path forward was to pursue opportunity elsewhere. But I wanted to take my time finding the right opportunity and gave my employers open notice. This has provided them the advantage of proactively hiring my replacement, and me training my successor, ensuring a seamless transition when I eventually leave. Now, my diligent search for the right fit has led me here today.”

This answer shows the interviewer that:

Speaks in positive terms.
Exhibits loyalty and gratitude for their professional growth.
Is focussed on advancing their career goals.
Is a bridge builder and has strong working relationships.
Exhibits integrity.

Unqualified Answer: “The company just went through a massive restructure after they brought in some consultants who were real sharks and shook up the status quo, quite unapologetically. We’re all fearing losing our jobs, and things got super negative there. So, I figured, why wait around for them to fire me? So I got the upper hand and quit. I then took some time off, took a couple of trips, cleared my head. Now, I realized I had better get back to work. So, it’s crunch time to find a new job. I came upon this job listing and realized I had most of the skills, and it seemed like a good match.”

This answer tells the interviewer that:

Speaks in negative terms, which could impact morale.
Has a poor work ethic.
Is a cruise worker, more happy with the status quo than developing professionally.
Doesn’t support the company’s vision and leads with assumptions while speaking with authority.
Is hoping the grass is greener on the other side, will probably bring these same issues with them, has poor planning skills, and are looking for any job right now.

3. Where Do You See Yourself In Five Years?

Why You Should Ask This Question

Career minded professionals will have a clear vision of where they hope to take their career next, and this question will help identify how career oriented a candidate is. You’ll be able to tell whether they’ve identified your company as the best path forward by how realistic their expectations are, how invested they are in this opportunity, and if they see it as a long-term fit.

Remember To

Constantly evaluate their attention to detail through the consistency of their narrative, and look for clues to their sincerity, honesty, and integrity. Also consider how effectively they communicate their message, and keep an eye out for anything worth following up on later in the interview. For example, if they signify an interest in eventually being promoted into a leadership position, make a note of it so you can see how consistent their narrative is when you ask them leadership questions later on.

What The Candidate’s Answers Show And Tell You

Qualified Answer: “I noticed your company is actively recruiting for leadership positions. Although I don’t yet have any formal leadership experience, I have a great deal of leadership potential, good instincts, and a strong work ethic. If awarded this opportunity, I’d strive to train for a leadership position this year, and hopefully be promoted by next year. In five years, I could see myself moving up in the ranks, actively learning, actively listening, and ambitiously developing my skills.”

This answer shows the interviewer that:

Has researched other positions within the company.
Has customized their career goals to this company and this position.
Has a grasp of a clear path forward, based on the company’s culture and language.

Unqualified Answer: “Hopefully having seniority and, with it, job security. Being fully vested with my retirement account, which I noted, is very generous, as are the other benefits you offer. And hopefully, being recognized for all my hard work and capped out with my pay.”

This answer tells the interviewer that:

Doesn’t have any clear career plans or goals.
Likely performs at the bare minimum, preferring the status quo and is resistant to change.
Is primarily interested in the pay and benefits.

4. Why Do You Want To Work For Us?

Why You Should Ask This Question

This compatibility question will help the interviewer distinguish those candidates who are specifically interested in working for them from those who are trying to find any job, anywhere. Although, in many circumstances, there’s nothing wrong with playing the numbers game, there must also be a focus on the big picture of their career, while aligning their goals with yours. Job hunting is intensive work. So, are they working harder, or smarter? This, on its own, can serve as an indicator of their experience, skill level, and work ethic.

Pro-Tip

Top performers understand the conditions which allow them to perform at their best, and they’ll be able to determine if your company’s culture and work environment are ideal for them. So, identify top performers by evaluating how well they’ve prepared for this question, and how aligned their language is with your company’s values.

What The Candidate’s Answers Show And Tell You

Qualified Answer: “Your company’s values, mission, and culture stood out to me. I want to feel proud when I tell people where I work, and I’ve been looking for a company whose work environment offers the kind of flexibility and working conditions that enable me to perform at my best. And, the career advancement opportunities available here seem well aligned with my career goals.”

This answer shows the interviewer that:

Identifies with the company culture and working environment.
Has integrity, a strong work ethic, and is likely a top performer.
Is looking for the right long-term fit.

Unqualified Answer: “I was looking on job boards, and saw this position on several of them. The salary is in the range of what I am looking for and the location is very close to home. One of the main things I am looking for is to lessen my commute. My last job I had to commute really far, adding two hours to every workday, not to mention the amount of gas. That’s less pay at the end of the day. So, I felt like this job was a good fit for my skills and the company checked all the boxes.”

This answer tells the interviewer that:

Is only interested in their own short-term goals.
Has done little to explore whether the company culture and environment are the right fit for them.
Is more likely to burnout on the job or perform at the bare minimum.
Is only in it for the money.

5. Why Should We Hire You?

Why You Should Ask This Question

Similarly phrased to the previous question, this puts their attention to detail and communication skills to work. The candidate just explained why they want to work for your company. Now they are being asked whether they have a firm grasp of why the company should want to hire them. If they’ve identified what makes them an ideal match for your company and are confident that they could competently represent your brand, they should be able to answer this question in detail.

Remember To

Keep an eye out for candidates who are simply telling you what they think you want to hear. Effectively reiterating how your website describes the company’s culture, and what the company’s ideal employees look like, tells you they can talk a good game, but offers nothing tangible, and shouldn’t sell you on them being the right fit. Researching your company’s site is a good start, but isn’t enough on its own.

What The Candidate’s Answers Show And Tell You

Qualified Answer: “I am super social. I love people and am very team oriented. I love working and collaborating with my teams and being a driver for change. I love working with varying perspectives, too. The more diverse, the more kaizen I am to innovating trends. In fact, my favorite part of my job is when we’re learning from each other and mentoring each other. On your website, you state your people are collaborators and innovators, change drivers and diversifiers, mentors and implementors. When I read that, I realized I was your people.”

This answer shows the interviewer that:

Shares personal details that align them with the company’s culture.
Is focussed on learning from others, innovating, and developing professionally.
Seems to believe in what they are saying.

Unqualified Answer: “You should hire me because I work very, very hard, am extremely reliable, and am the best person for the job. I live super close by and could be here in a heartbeat if coverage was needed. My skills match all the required skills for the position, and I could start tomorrow.”

This answer tells the interviewer that:

Only offers qualifiers and nothing tangible or directly related to the company itself.
Reiterated their answer from a similarly phrased question.
Promises a work ethic inconsistent with the work they put into preparing for this interview.
Likely can start tomorrow because they are desperate for the work, a point worth following up on later in the interview.

6. How Do You Feel About Working In An Inclusive And Diverse Environment?

Why You Should Ask This Question

This diversity question helps determine how culturally competent a candidate is, and if they showcase a shared vision of the DEI big picture. Their answer should offer clues to their values and character. It should also offer insights into how collaborative they are, and whether they have issues with diversity in positions of authority.

Pro-Tip

Pay attention to the candidate’s body language when they answer this question. A candidate’s nonverbal communication is just as important as the words they choose. A candidate who opens up their body language, leans in, tilts their head, smiles and maintains eye contact will convey curiosity, interest, and open-mindedness. Whereas a candidate who seems uncomfortable with the question, starts frowning, averts eye contact, leans back and increases the physical distance from you while repeatedly blinking, are likely indicators of antipathy and negative bias.

What The Candidate’s Answers Show And Tell You

Qualified Answer: “I am a firm believer that companies who foster diverse, equitable, and inclusive work cultures statistically are better at driving innovation, and are generally good companies to work for. The greater the pool of varying perspectives, the more there will be to learn from my teams. I’ve always been determined to further my career and my professional development. If I worked for a company who only hired one demographic, I can’t imagine I’d learn a thing, and I’d probably look for a job elsewhere.”

This answer shows the interviewer that:

Is in their comfort zone working in a DEI workplace.
Recognizes how DEI efforts contribute to a company’s worth.
Has career goals in line with the company’s goals, suggesting they are a good fit.

Unqualified Answer: “I support equal rights. They have a right to a job and to get a chance at success like the rest of us. A couple of times I’ve worked with people who were from a foreign country, and we got along just fine.”

This answer tells the interviewer that:

Doesn’t seem convinced of their own statements, nor seems to understand what they are saying.
Uses Us-versus-Them terminology.
Doesn’t seem aligned with the company’s values.
Doesn’t have much experience working in a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment.

7. Tell Me About A Conflict You Had At Work.

Why You Should Ask This Question

Conflict questions help assess a candidate’s attitude and worldview, and whether they’re prone to inciting, or resolving, conflict in the workplace. Also, phrasing questions in a way that leaves them open to interpretation can help an interviewer distinguish candidates whose decision-making is led by assumptions from those who are more prone to asking questions.

Remember To

Pay attention to their body language. Some candidates mistakenly see this question as an opportunity to showcase their authority or to come across as tough. So, if a candidate puffs themselves up, holds their chin high, or folds their arms across their chest while answering this question, this can serve as an indicator that their leadership style is more authoritative or autocratic.

What The Candidate’s Answers Show And Tell You

Qualified Answer: “If by a conflict, you mean a physical conflict, I’m glad to say I’ve never gotten into a physical fight at work. If by a conflict, you mean a scheduling conflict, there was a time I was asked to take over a project for someone who quit, but I couldn’t since I had planned a vacation which conflicted with that deadline. But I did re-engineer the project so it could be more functionally delegated to others. However, if by a conflict, you mean a disagreement, there was a time a teammate disagreed with me on how to proceed on a project when we ran into an obstacle. When they communicated defensively, I got to work actively listening, objectifying the situation, being considerate and empathetic of their concerns, and mirroring what they said so they felt heard and understood. I then took my turn talking, adapting my communication style to theirs, and was able to get them to understand the situation a little better, which called for a more proactive course of action. In no time, we were on the same page again, and working together towards a successful outcome.”

This answer shows the interviewer that:

Went above and beyond in answering the question.
Has strong communication skills.
Asks questions.
Is emotionally intelligent and has strong leadership potential.

Unqualified Answer: “I worked with this one guy who was a real piece of work. The first time I met him I went to shake his hand, and he looked at me, then looked at my hand and then walked away. I don’t know what his problem was. So anytime we had to work together, it was like we were working on our own. There was never any collaboration. I just did my work, and he did his. Sometimes things would get a little tense, but mostly I just avoided engaging with him.”

This answer tells the interviewer that:

Isn’t proactive in building stronger team relations or building trust.
May not have been part of the problem, but wasn’t doing anything to be part of the solution.
Didn’t showcase strong communication skills or empathy, preferring the less engaged route of avoidance.

8. What Would You Do If You Witnessed A Coworker Doing Something Unethical?

Why You Should Ask This Question

This compatibility question aims to help the interviewer assess a candidate’s integrity, strength of character, honesty, experience level, and emotional intelligence. A strong candidate will seem committed to upholding the code of conduct of their current or previous employer. A top performing candidate may even have familiarized themselves with your company’s code of conduct, if it is available online, as with most companies.

Pro-Tip

Someone who is less experienced is more prone to bending the rules and taking shortcuts to get the job done faster. A less self aware and emotionally immature individual is more prone to believing others think like them. Therefore, an unqualified candidate is more likely to read into this question, and express that they would be willing to bend the rules for the interviewer if it meant they would be rewarded the job.

What The Candidate’s Answers Show And Tell You

Qualified Answer: “Well, I spent some time reviewing your company’s code of ethical conduct, and it is very similar to my current company’s standards. I’d have no problem adhering to these standards, and could be counted on to always do the right thing. In fact, there was a supervisor who I was quite fond of. But one night, I noticed them dropping some cash into their personal bag when they were calculating the daily totals. This was extremely disappointing, and I immediately informed another supervisor of what I believed I witnessed. Surprisingly, the supervisor wasn’t fired, but they were demoted and transferred to another location.”

This answer shows the interviewer that:

Has a strong work ethic and went above and beyond preparing for their interview.
Has integrity and is honest.
Is courageous and doesn’t hesitate to do the right thing.

Unqualified Answer: “Well, I guess it depends? I don’t steal and consider myself pretty honest. But I’m not interested in getting anyone in trouble or rocking the boat either. I guess I would do or say whatever you’d want me to.”

This answer tells the interviewer that:

Is unclear on their personal ethics and presents themselves as a liability.
Has done little to prepare for the interview and is not self aware of how they might be perceived.
Is more interested in being rewarded for cronyism than merit.

9. How Would Your Coworkers Describe You?

Why The Interviewer Asks This Question

This behavioral question will help you determine the sincerity of their answer based on how confident they seem. How they answer also may offer clues as to what kind of relationships they built with their coworkers, and how self aware they are of how others perceive them. Are they telling you what they think you want to hear, or are telling you who they truly are?

Remember To

Keep an eye out for inconsistencies and whether they contradict their previous statements. Contrast how they believe others describe them with their self presentation. Do the two align? If not, make a note of it.

What The Candidate’s Answers Show And Tell You

Qualified Answer: “I believe they’d describe me as an optimist. They would tell you I am a bit shy at first, but once you get to know me, I’d be a bright spot in your day. They’d describe me as fun to be around, as super honest, supportive and professional.”

This answer shows the interviewer that:

Is self aware and honest about their strengths and limitations.
Takes ownership of who they are and what they have to offer.

Unqualified Answer: “My coworkers would describe me as hardworking, always on time, that I always do my part and get the job done. They’d also say you should hire me.”

This answer tells the interviewer that:

Most likely is telling the interviewer what they think they want to hear.
Offers statements not typical of how a teammate would describe someone they’ve built a relationship with.
Doesn’t say anything extraordinary about their work ethic or what they uniquely have to offer. Showing up to work on time and performing the work you are paid for is meeting the bare minimum.

10. Tell Me About A Recent Accomplishment You’re Proud Of.

Why The Interviewer Asks This Question

Typically, any accomplishment a candidate considers themselves proud of will exemplify what going above and beyond looks like for them. So their answer should suggest the measure of their extra mile, and serve quite well as an indicator of future performance. Monitor the consistency between their answer to this question and others, especially if they’ve been making tall and broad claims up to this point.

Pro-Tip

This question should help you determine if a candidate can walk the walk and not just talk a good game. Pay attention to whether they provide specifics or simply use qualifiers. This should inform you of how genuine or disingenuous their answer is. Telling you their accomplishment was amazing shows you nothing about their work ethic. Knowing how to do the job means nothing if they’re not doing the job. But detailing what made their accomplishment amazing shows you what you need to know.

What The Candidate’s Answers Show And Tell You

Qualified Answer: “Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to coach and mentor both those with prior leadership experience and those recently promoted into a management role. Recently, though, I had a particularly unique experience mentoring someone with no prior leadership background who I recognized had real leadership potential, and who embodied the company’s culture and values in a way that was truly exceptional. Under my guidance, they accomplished incredible things in a very short amount of time, consistently exceeding expectations and outperforming their peers. There were several significant milestones they reached along the way, and after only six months, they were recently promoted into a leadership role. Somehow, in helping them actualize their unrealized goals, I gained a deeper understanding of my own strengths as a coach and mentor. This stands out in my mind as my most recent significant achievement.”

This answer shows the interviewer that:

Finds their work satisfying and meaningful.
Prioritizes the success of the team over their own personal goals.
Embraces and supports the company’s vision, goals and mission.
Is experienced and has strong leadership skills.

Unqualified Answer: “I recently led a team on a major project at work. It wasn’t my dream team, but I made things happen. I constantly monitored their work and kept pushing them, reminding them of their time frames and driving urgency. A few of them were real underperformers, and in all honesty weren’t cut out for the job. I found myself having to repeat their instructions to them, which cost time and was frustrating. But, against all odds, we got the job done just under the deadline. Honestly, I don’t think anyone else could have done it better. So, I feel pretty proud of that.”

This answer tells the interviewer that:

Deflects blame to the members of the team they are leading.
Doesn’t invest in their development.
Doesn’t have strong communication or delegation skills.
Doesn’t trust their team to be self managed, so instead micromanages them.
Views meeting their deadlines as going above and beyond.

11. Tell Me About A Time You Contributed To The Team.

Why The Interviewer Asks This Question

Every employee is expected to contribute to the team. So even though this question is essentially asking a candidate to tell you about a time they did their job, it also serves another purpose. It is designed to help you identify those who do more than their part and consistently exceed expectations. Candidates who view each question as an opportunity to advertise their merits and showcase their potential will go the extra mile here. They will try to use this question as an opportunity to show you what they are capable of and why you should hire them.

The Goal

Take note of what their answer says about their interpersonal skills and the relationships they’ve built. Watch out for any unique skills or traits they advertise. Keep a keen eye out for exaggerations and be on the lookout for any inconsistencies with the rest of their narrative.

What The Candidate’s Answers Show And Tell You

Qualified Answer: “When the team is really working together, all working as one, it’s kind of extraordinary. Recently, I was given a role in my team that totally fell in my wheelhouse. So, I worked fast, checked my work, and finished way ahead of deadline. I then checked in with someone else on my team and asked if I could help them, and they gratefully accepted my offer, and I helped them with a few steps, and we both then finished that aspect of the project early. Then the two of us checked in with two other teammates, and helped them finish early, and this went on. The next thing we knew, we all finished early and were giving each other high-fives. After work, we all went out together and kept riding that wave.”

This answer shows the interviewer that:

Sets the pace and leads by example.
Prioritizes the needs of the team and goes the distance to support each member.
Has strong relationship-building skills.

Unqualified Answer: “I started getting in the habit of thoroughly checking my work, especially with punching orders. You see, a while back, I made a couple of mis-punches that caused something of a headache for our warehouse. Since then, I got in the habit of checking my work, and then I went even farther and started checking other people's work in our ordering system. Well, recently I noticed a big mistake a coworker had made that would have caused some serious problems. So I fixed it and went straight to my manager to inform them of what I discovered. Had I not been diligent and been looking over the team’s work, we would have been dealing with a real headache for weeks to come.”

This answer tells the interviewer that:

Looks for mistakes others have made to make themselves look better.
Informed their manager instead of addressing the mistake with their coworker, likely straining relations.
The candidate doesn’t have powerful examples to offer regarding teamwork and collaboration.

12. What Is Your Greatest Strength?

Why The Interviewer Asks This Question

This question is designed to offer a candidate another opportunity to set themself apart from the rest of the talent pool. It is also when you must remain objective and be aware of when a candidate is merely pandering to your sensibilities. A candidate who has done their homework will be well-informed about the type of talent you advertise you are seeking on your career’s website. Yet, asserting that their strengths align with the company culture does not guarantee their self-representation is accurate. So, pay close attention to how they respond to each question and what their collective responses reveal about their professional identity. In other words, be vigilant and maintain control of the interview.

What To Avoid

When an interview is going well and you are excited about the prospect of a candidate, don’t get carried away with your enthusiasm. The last thing you want to do is get a candidate’s hopes too high, especially when you have more people to interview, or when there are other decision makers who will have a say in who gets hired. When a candidate picks up on signals that their interview is going exceedingly well and then doesn’t get the job, this can have a negative impact on their emotions, and negatively impact how they view your company for years to come.

What The Candidate’s Answers Show And Tell You

Qualified Answer: “I would say that my greatest strength is my ability to take something apart in my mind and to put it back together. Once I understand how something works, I try to find new ways to put it back together even better. This results in my frequently innovating new tips and tricks to do the job better and faster. For example, people often take shortcuts to do a job faster. I often re-engineer something so that it is easier to do it the right way, and the shortcut becomes the long way around. I believe simplicity is always the best path. Another of my greatest strengths is my compulsion to share and coach others on what I learned or developed. If I can help them have an easier time doing their job better, I am having a good day.”

This answer shows the interviewer that:

Is innovative.
Is team oriented.
Is adaptable.

Unqualified Answer: “I would say one of my greatest strengths is how innovative I am. Also, I am extremely team oriented. And lastly, I can adapt to any situation at the drop of a hat.”

This answer tells the interviewer that:

May be reiterating what is stated on the company’s website without personal insight.
Is listing supposed strengths but not providing concrete examples.
Appears to have spent little time preparing for the interview or researching the role.

13. What Is Your Greatest Weakness?

Why The Interviewer Asks This Question

This question allows you to determine how emotionally intelligent your candidate is. A candidate who takes ownership of their weaknesses and doesn’t hesitate to share them exhibits strength and a growth mindset. A candidate who hesitates to share their weaknesses out of fear reveals they haven’t taken charge of their own development and lacks experience.

Pro-Tip

When a candidate shares weaknesses which are required skills, in most cases, it suggests a lack of emotional intelligence. It also suggests they are taking a calculated risk by sharing it, and an interview is no time for exhibiting risky behavior, which presents them as a liability.

What The Candidate’s Answers Show And Tell You

Qualified Answer: “Well, I’d say one of my greatest weaknesses is how, when I am really absorbed in my work and feel like I am making progress, I have trouble switching gears when priorities suddenly change. In all honesty, when that happens, it makes me a little grouchy. Don’t get me wrong, I can adapt, and drop everything and get to work. I just pride myself on my strong attention to detail and do get really absorbed in my work. So, when it is interrupted, I find it frustrating. My coworkers frequently make fun of me and call me Mr. Grouch when I get that way. When they poke fun at me, I can laugh it off, and in all honesty, it helps me not take things so seriously and reminds me to work on improving that about myself.”

This answer shows the interviewer that:

Takes pride in their work and has a strong attention to detail.
Takes ownership of their growth opportunities.
Is aware of how they are perceived by others and has a sense of humor about it.

Unqualified Answer: “I would say that my greatest weakness is how ambitious I am. Some of my coworkers have accused me of being a sycophant, which isn’t true. I just actively listen, constantly seek feedback, and take charge of my development. But aside from that, I would say one of my greatest weaknesses is working with excel spreadsheets, and creating formulas and charts. I know this is listed in the job requirements, and I have some experience with the program, but might need a little training to get me up to speed.”

This answer tells the interviewer that:

Disguises a strength as a weakness, coming across as disingenuous.
Reveals they don’t actually meet the job requirements.
Makes claims of taking charge of their development but doesn’t back it up with examples.

14. Tell Me About A Time You Failed.

Why The Interviewer Asks This Question

Winston Churchill said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.” How a candidate approaches failure has as much to do with their integrity and work ethic as anything else. How they approach their failures can reveal their rate of success, and what they might have to offer your company. Whether they take ownership of their mistakes or try to cover them up should offer insights into their experience level, emotional intelligence, and professional worth.

Pro-Tip

Throughout each interview, keep your eye on the big picture of a candidate’s answers. Don’t allow any single answer to make up your mind whether you should or shouldn’t hire them. Rather, examine the big picture of what all of their answers collectively say about them as a person and a professional, while paying attention to all the details.

What The Candidate’s Answers Show And Tell You

Qualified Answer: “I was super eager to accomplish too many of my career goals in too short a time, so I took on too many projects at once, and over promised and under delivered. The thing is, I started by focusing on projects I preferred, instead of prioritizing what I was working on according to the time I had available to get everything done. So, when I finished the more enjoyable projects, I struggled to get the others off the ground, and kept pushing myself harder the closer I got to the deadline. In the end, I had to recruit help at the last minute to meet the deadlines, and the quality of the work wasn’t according to my standard, as rushed as it was. If I could go back and do things differently, I would have managed my time better, and determined from the outset which tasks to each project would have fit into the time allowed each day leading up to the deadline. But I didn’t know then what I know now. These days, I take on less and over deliver. That way, when I come in way ahead of a deadline, I can help out elsewhere or start on something new.”

This answer shows the interviewer that:

Takes responsibility for their actions.
Took advantage of the learning opportunities the failure presented.
Takes charge of their development and has grown in experience since.

Unqualified Answer: “I was compiling a report and was proud of myself that I was going to turn it in on time. But at the last moment, I realized I’d made a terrible mistake and left out a big component, which meant all of my numbers were off. I was super embarrassed, and so I shelved the report for the day and worked super hard to accomplish the other goals I had on my plate. Then, finishing those early, I discretely went back to work on fixing that report. I ended up working about two hours late and then submitted the work under the radar.”

This answer tells the interviewer that:

Didn’t take responsibility for their mistake.
Exhausted further payroll hours and company resources to cover up their mistake.
Didn’t learn from their failure and are more likely to repeat the same behavior.

15. How Do You Respond To Feedback?

Why The Interviewer Asks This Question

How they interpret and answer this question should inform you of their experience level and how focused they are on their professional development. Most candidates will speak from their own personal or professional experience. Some candidates will assume this question refers to receiving unsolicited feedback, although it doesn’t specify that. Others who proactively seek feedback will share those experiences.

Remember To

Pay attention to not only what they have to say but also how they say it. This is another question where a candidate’s non-verbal communication could say a lot. If a candidate is not self aware, takes feedback personally and typically grows defensive in such situations, they may regress to the emotions of that experience upon recall. This could cause them to protect their neck with their hands, cross their arms over their chest, furrow their brow, ride up one shoulder higher than another and lean away or shift to one side of their chair.

What The Candidate’s Answers Show And Tell You

Qualified Answer: “I try to take advantage of what can be gained from all feedback, whether it is solicited or not. I also frequently seek out feedback. I want to know how well I am performing and if there is anything I can do better. Recently, I received some feedback from a coworker who was quite critical and harsh in their language. It was the result of me offering some unsolicited advice on a project they were working on, which I had experience with. But it was clear they questioned my motives. There were other supervisors who would frequently try to take credit for other’s success by claiming credit for mentoring those they offered advice to. But, despite my sincerity, I recognized how I could have communicated better. So I took the feedback in stride, and promised my coworker that if they wanted any help or advice moving forward, that I would wait for them to ask for it. I also promised that any advice I gave them would be in confidence, if they preferred.”

This answer shows the interviewer that:

Prioritizes supporting the team over their own self interest.
Is team oriented and has strong communication skills.
Is emotionally intelligent and views all feedback as a growth opportunity.

Unqualified Answer: “That all depends on the delivery of the feedback. I had a coworker say some pretty crummy things to me once. None of it was true. I think they were just having a bad day, but they never apologized for it. They pretty much called my work ethic into question. But we don’t even work in the same department. To their eyes, my job looks easier than theirs, and they act like I should be jumping over to help them out. But I worked hard to get to where I am. I think they don’t like their own job that much and are just jealous. Sad.”

This answer tells the interviewer that:

Responds emotionally to feedback.
Exhibits poor communication and conflict resolution skills.
Doesn’t take measures to learn from the situation or develop professionally.

16. How Do You Cope With Stress?

Why The Interviewer Asks This Question

A candidate who is less experienced might struggle with how to answer this question, or share techniques for coping with their stress, which might not necessarily be practical in a fast paced, high pressured situation. Whereas an experienced professional will offer examples of not allowing their stress to dictate their behavior while acting decisively.

The Goal

The goal here is to gauge a candidate’s emotional intelligence, and whether they allow their stress to dictate their behavior or impact their performance. An employee who has emotional, stress induced outbursts on the job, or who suffers from task paralysis or task procrastination, is a liability and represents a poor hiring decision.

What The Candidate’s Answers Show And Tell You

Qualified Answer: “I allow myself to experience my stress rather than letting it slow me down or stop me. I also see stressful situations as opportunities to challenge myself and to lead by example. If you let your stress to get the better of you, then everyone will follow your lead. But if you let the stress of a situation energize you and spur you into action, then you get things done. And when others bravely follow your charge, well, that is encouraging and can energize you pretty quickly. It’s like General Patton said, a good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow.”

This answer shows the interviewer that:

Acts decisively.
Has leadership potential.
Is emotionally intelligent, and their behavior is not dictated by their stress.

Unqualified Answer: “I walk away from it and take a moment to collect myself. I have a stress relieving squishy ball that I squeeze when I am feeling overwhelmed. If that doesn’t work, I’ll make myself a cup of tea or go outside for some fresh air and have a cigarette.”

This answer tells the interviewer that:

Takes time away from work to cope with their stress.
Has difficulty managing their emotions.
Is unreliable.

17. Do You Prefer Change Or The Status Quo?

Why The Interviewer Asks This Question

More experienced candidates will use this question to distinguish themselves from less experienced ones by going out of their way to demonstrate that they thrive on challenge and are determined to advance their career goals and develop professionally. Whereas a less experienced candidate who is more interested in finding a secure job that is predictable and routine might resist change, and have difficulty adapting, or managing their stress when things don’t go according to plan.

Pro-Tip

If the job the candidate is interviewing for is that of a predictable and routine nature, such as a labor job or clerical job, the aim is still to assess how well they rise to the occasion when duty calls, for example, when company wide changes occur. When a company undergoes a rebranding or restructure, there are those employees who listen to and take the company’s messaging to heart, ask questions, and support the company’s vision or new direction. Then there are those employees who misinterpret the company’s messaging, project their fears onto the situation and assume their job is at risk, while spreading rumors and sowing dissent. In many instances, those employees who assume their job is in jeopardy are not top performers are aware of their professional worth.

What The Candidate’s Answers Show And Tell You

Qualified Answer: “If you’re asking whether I prefer it when things go smoothly, I’d say a large percentage of whether things go smoothly is within your control. That’s just good management. But when elements that are out of your control result in unplanned contingencies, I rise to the challenge. But if you’re asking about how well I can adapt to change, such as if there is a company restructure or rebranding, I just need to know what needs to get done. Give me to tools to do my job, and I will perform it to the best of my ability. I also prefer change of my own making. That is, if I achieve my career advancement goals, that’s my kind of change, and I definitely prefer it over the status quo.”

This answer shows the interviewer that:

Is adaptable.
Is thorough in their communication.
Is career driven and is supportive of the company’s vision.

Unqualified Answer: “I am good at my job, and do it well, and I prefer a certain level of predictability to get it done. I think everyone pretty much feels that way. But when someone comes along and thinks they can do it better, well, I say if it’s not broken, don’t try to fix it. And, if I’m not able to do my job, and do it the way I have always done it, how can they expect you to do it as well as you did before?”

This answer tells the interviewer that:

Is not adaptable.
Possibly has issues with those in positions of authority.
Is not self aware of how they’ll be perceived by the interviewer.

18. If Chosen For This Position, What Goals Would You Initially Set For Yourself?

Why The Interviewer Asks This Question

A less experienced or less team oriented individual will be more focussed on promoting their self interest. They’ll come up with ideas on how to improve what the company does without asking whether their suggestions have already been explored, nor considering what those more tenured employees have taken pride in innovating. Whereas a more experienced candidate will have some understanding of what to expect when hired. Beyond their orientation and onboarding, they’ll consider it their top priority to build relationships and earn the trust of their teams.

Pro-Tip

Most candidates feel grateful when awarded an opportunity and are eager to contribute by bringing their unique offerings to the table. The goal here is to distinguish those who see the big picture, are focussed on contributing to the team, and developing their skills, from those focussed only on themselves and their own advancement. An experienced candidate will have strong interpersonal skills, will want to contribute, grow, and learn from those who came before them. Whereas a less experienced candidate will assume their big ideas haven’t been thought of before, thinking their singular accomplishments will set them apart from the team and fast track their careers.

What The Candidate’s Answers Show And Tell You

Qualified Answer: “The second I accept the job offer, I would expand my research on the company and get a head start on my orientation. I would prepare for my onboarding and learn everything I could about the job. I would also actively aim to build relationships with my teams and clients. I would examine all the systems and processes, ask lots of questions, evaluate everything, and determine every manner in which I could put my unique skills and offerings to work.”

This answer shows the interviewer that:

Has strong interpersonal skills.
Has an experienced and mature approach to learning, contributing and growing within the company.
Has a strong work ethic, goes above and beyond, and is proactive in taking charge of their development.

Unqualified Answer: “I would start by finding ways to improve the company’s sale processes. As I said, I have been the leader in our sales department for two quarters in a row, and I’ve done this by reimagining the company’s sales process, so I would start there. I would identify which members of the department were struggling with their goals and coach them until they improved. And I would create a suggestions box for the breakroom where we could review and implement fresh ideas each week, while giving every employee a voice.”

Doesn’t have strong interpersonal skills.
Doesn’t ask questions and assume they can do better.
Is not aware of how they might be perceived.

19. What Other Questions Do You Have For Me?

Why The Interviewer Asks This Question

By now, you’ll have distinguished the unqualified candidates from the top performers. This question should almost always be posed as one of the last questions. It will help separate strong performers from top performers by how thoroughly they have prepared for their interview. Those who have prepared will naturally ask many of their questions throughout the interview. Several of their questions may answer themselves before they even have a chance to ask them. An unqualified candidate will ask questions they could have answered on their own. A strong candidate may have asked some good questions, but ran out of questions to ask. A top performer will have several questions in reserve for the end of the interview. Those questions will be original and memorable.

Pro-Tip

Keep an eye out for any questions a candidate poses that you have already answered, suggesting poor listening skills and a lack of attention to detail. Be wary of any questions they’ve already asked and phrased differently. Also, be wary of any questions surrounding pay or benefits. When an employee is anxious to cover that topic, it suggests they lack the confidence to wait for a more appropriate time, they are only in it for the money, lack experience, and don’t have a strong sense of their own professional worth.

What The Candidate’s Answers Show And Tell You

Qualified Answer: “I have a few questions. Was this position vacated, or was it created? How fond is the team of the person who held this vacated position, and will their replacement be received warmly? After onboarding, what does an average day in this role look like? Is there anything I can clear up for you, or any concerns or questions you have that I can address? What do you love most about working for the company?”

This answer shows the interviewer that:

Has several questions that are original and clearly advertise their priorities.
The candidate is generating conversation with their interviewer, making themself more memorable.

Unqualified Answer: “I think we’ve pretty much covered it. I had several questions, but they were answered through the process of the interview, so I think you’ve already answered them all. When will I hear back from you whether there is another interview, and when would be a good time to discuss salary?”

This answer tells the interviewer that:

Didn’t go above and beyond in their preparation.
Is in a hurry to find a job soon and impatient with the process.

20. How do you like to spend your personal time? Do you have any interesting hobbies?

Why The Interviewer Asks This Question

This behavioral question offers your candidate one final opportunity to showcase their interpersonal skills. A top performer might take advantage of this question to share their time management and project management skills, showcase their work life balance, and to build a connection with their interviewer by striking up memorable conversation and posing the same question to the person who is interviewing them.

The Goal

This is the grand finale of the interview. You want to end it on a good note, regardless of whether you are considering the candidate for a second interview. As a representative of your company, you want to preserve their reputation by conducting yourself in a friendly and professional manner. So have fun with this question, and do your best to make each candidate feel good about the interview experience.

What The Candidate’s Answers Show And Tell You

Qualified Answer: “I like getting exercise and spending time outdoors. So whether it is hiking, mountain biking, or gardening, I love being outside, rain or shine. I also play the guitar. I don’t play the guitar very well. I am more of a campfire guitarist. Aside from that, I also spend my spare time preparing for my week, for both my personal and professional life, and while I am doing that, I listen to podcasts or some good music.”

This answer shows the interviewer that:

Prioritizes their physical and mental wellbeing.
Are adept at managing their time.
Has a healthy work life balance.

Unqualified Answer: “When I get off work, I go straight to the couch, crack open a beer and watch my shows. I am a big fan of that show, Big Nature Survivor. I don’t know. I’m always binging something. I’m a real night owl, too. So, typically I am out for drinks with my friends or at a show. How about you? Like music? Seen any good shows lately? I’m going to a good one tonight. You should come and have a beer with us.”

This answer tells the interviewer that:

Doesn’t seize this opportunity to advertise other merits or points of interest.
Doesn’t maintain a professional tone now that they think the interview is over and they are in the clear.

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